Times
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS, INC.
T H E JAC K S O N
Vol. 16 - No. 31
ment. Fire Districts 1 and 2 have consolidated, therefore saving money. We’re building the spray park. The budget, it’s very tough to do when you have a 2 percent cap, but we’ve done it under that. The efficiency part of the township is starting to show more and more, that we can do more with less and
–Photo by Jennifer Peacock still not remove services. Services stay the same. We restructured the departments, realizing you don’t need more people to get more efficiency. Sometimes with fewer people involved in decision making makes it more efficient. We streamlined by modernizing the Internet and (Mayor - See Page 4)
Number Of Seniors In Need Of Food Assistance Grows
By Daniel Nee OCEAN COUNTY – Officials with the county’s Office of Senior Services say they have expanded access to meal assistance for seniors as the need has grown in recent years, but caution that costs of the program are steadily rising. “It is growing continuously,” said Freeholder Joseph Vicari. “There is no waiting list, which is extremely important to us. If we did not do it, no one else would do it.”
Business Directory....................16 Community News...................7-8 Dear Joel...................................19 Dear Pharmacist .......................11 Fun Page ..................................16 Government ...............................7 Inside The Law .........................14 Letters to the Editor .....................5 Wolfgang .................................19 WWW.MICROMEDIAPUBS.COM
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MAYOR WELCOMES NEW YEAR
By Jennifer Peacock JACKSON – The Jackson Times caught up with Mayor Michael Reina to ask him a few questions about 2015 and what he expects for the town for 2016. What are your administration’s accomplishments in the last year? We increased our police depart-
Inside This Week’s Edition
The county provides the bulk of its meals to seniors as part of the Meals on Wheels program, though it also operates eight congregate meal sites around the county. The county is currently predicting a record year ahead in 2016, with a forecast for 281,000 meals to be provided. About 200 seniors attend the nutrition congregate sites for a meal each day. “We do a needs assessment
that is pretty intense, and we’re hearing people say, ‘we can’t feed ourselves,’” said Vicari. “Most of these people are moderate- to high-risk seniors, and they can’t fully take care of themselves.” Ocean County will spend $2.6 million on senior meal services this year, with the county taxpayers funding a portion worth $1.4 million. The remainder is funded by federal sources, which county (Food - See Page 18)
January 2, 2016
Ocean County To Buy $2M In Land For Preservation, Watershed Protection
By Daniel Nee OCEAN COUNTY – The next acquisitions by the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust will be in Jackson and Little Egg Harbor townships, officials said. The Ocean County Freeholders said they had reached a deal with owners of the two plots, which make up a combined 183 acres, to purchase the land so it can be preserved. The Jackson parcel consists of 127 acres that are located adjacent to the Metedeconk National Golf Club, Freeholder Director John Bartlett said. The property abuts land that is already preserved as part of Turkey Swamp Park in the Monmouth County park system. Ocean County already owns several swaths of land to the west.
The plot lies in the vicinity of Cedar Swamp Road, and will be purchased for $1,010,500. “These are the headwaters of the Metedeconk [River],” said Bartlett, adding that the site had already been approved for residential development. “This has been a high priority since we began our Natural Lands Program, since it does serve the water for the Brick MUA.” In recent years, officials at both the state and county levels have been seeking to preserve and protect inland water sources since they ultimately run to Barnegat Bay. The fact that several Ocean County municipalities served by the Brick MUA source their water from the Metedeconk makes (Watershed - See Page 18)
Public Comment On Great Adventure Solar Project At Next Meeting
Donato, representing environmental By Jennifer Peacock JACKSON – On January 11, Jack- groups that oppose the clearing of now 70 acres of son residents will forest to make way have their t u r n for the project. Those to be heard after meetings have adhearing several journed into the late hours of meetings night, and sometimes of witness testiearly morning, hours. mony and cross The exchange from examination on a –Photo by the dais and floor has project that would Jennifer Peacock been heated at times, clearcut forest and Some are in opposition to with Board members install solar panels Great Adventures’ solar and attorney Greg on Great Adven- panel project, saying it has McGuckin repeatedly warning Donato to ture’s property. unintended environmental
cease with redundant Great Adventure consequences. questioning of witand KDC Solar’s nesses, a characterization she has solar array project has been chalchallenged. lenged during special Planning (Six Flags - See Page 13) Board meetings by attorney Michele
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